Centenary College Summer Band Concert Series

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) - Bring your lawn chairs, friend and family to the first of the outdoor Summer Band Concert series at Centenary College. Join us on at the Hargrove Memorial Amphitheatre Tuesday, June 15 beginning at 8 p.m. for Big Band Jazz led by Bill Causey Jr.

Additional concerts take place June 22 and June 29 and will include the symphonic band conducted by Dr. Thomas Stone, professor of music at Centenary College. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. and are FREE and open to the public.

Since the performances are outside, concertgoers are encouraged to bring seat cushions, lawn chairs and picnic baskets for the evening.

The concert series is sponsored by Ark-La-Tex Cardiology, the John C. "Chris" Cordaro family, The Band House, and Smith & Company CPAs. For more information, call 318.869.5238.

The Summer Band Concert series has been a staple since 1957 when B.P. Causey, then director of bands at the College established the series comprised of local professional musicians. For more than 30 years, the ensemble performed at the band shell, with audiences ranging from 500 to 3,000 concertgoers. The concerts was a summertime staple in Shreveport until 1987 when the tradition ended due to Mr. Causey's advanced age and lack of funding.

The series was revived in 2000 when Mr. Causey's son, Bill Jr., and Dr. Stone, produced and reestablished the Centenary Summer Band Concert Series with financial backing area businesses. According to Stone, a renewed series of concerts provided the public with the opportunity to hear concert music of high quality performed by top-flight musicians. With a "concert in the park atmosphere," music has been selected from a variety of styles, including marches, Broadway show tunes, overtures, tone poems, and solo works with band accompaniment.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.